Woodland Roadrunners host Toy Run to benefit Toys For Tots

Sponsored by the Woodland Roadrunners', Chapter V, the 23rd annual Toy Run regularly draws motorcyclists from throughout Northern California to assist Marine Corps League Detachment 627 and its efforts to gather toys for needy families.

In the past as many as 400 toys have been collected, reported Joe Spencer of the Woodland Roadrunners. He expected just as many, if not more toys, to be delivered this year.

Spencer said there could be between 75 and 100 riders, some coming from as far as Monterey and Seaside.

In the past, there has been a "Poker Run" for riders and this year, Spencer said, there will also be a Santa Claus ride. Prizes were to be awarded for the oldest rider, the youngest rider and the rider who came from the longest distance.

The effort is also to assist the local Marine Corps League, which will shortly be distributing toy barrels for the Toys for Tots Program, which is now in its 66th years.

Local coordinator Jim Jurkiewicz said the league typically provides around 2,300 families with toys for their children, usually numbering 5,000 or more.

This year, toys are scheduled to be provided on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Waite Hall of the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland.

Since 1947, the United States Marine Corps have collected and distributed toys to needy children in the United States, Puerto Rico and American Samoa. In 2012, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots program distributed 15.6 million new toys to 7.2 million underprivileged children across the country. In total, today there are 721 community programs made up of Marines members of the Marine Corps League and members of local civilian organizations all working in support of the "Toys for Tots" campaigns.